In a beat, Erin Barra pushes meaning into her music—pressing out joy and loss in the same song.

Described as “an old soul musician with a very modern songwriting sensibility,” by John Hall of Hall & Oates, Barra is making her way in the music world, and will perform this Friday at Brooklyn's Paperbox on 17 Meadow St.

An instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer, Barra, a native of Utah, said “I've just always been interested in music.”

A graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Barra found herself in New York City shortly following graduation. She then released her debut album, Soul Revolutions, in 2007.

"All of the songs are about achieving your dreams and growing as an individual," Barra said of the album. "At the time, I was disheartened by the industry and pop music in general. I felt like it needed to be injected with a dose of positive energy and a breath of fresh air."

Barra’s positive attitude as she transitioned into New York City’s music industry was met with hardship, as she admitted that at times it was difficult to be noticed by what was considered the popular genre.

However, Barra continued to work, making a promise to constantly reinvent her music and herself. "My goal is to keep reinventing myself, technologically and musically," she said.

And from there, Barra said that her passion for performance and the lyrical snowballed into the person she is today and is still becoming.

Barra is constantly exploring new directions for her creativity and love of technology, which can be seen through the recent release of her mixtape Comma, which includes remixes from Barra’s new album, Illusions, which will play on Friday, along with performances from other groups, such as Lily and the Parlour Tricks, Cold Blood Club, and Blank Paper.

Barra said that her music is constantly evolving, which can be heard in her new album, combined with reggae-infused tones and a hip-hop.

And even after two albums and other works, Barra is still enjoying her select style, remembering not to take any rehearsal or practice for granted. “I’m focusing on the journey of becoming the artist that I want to be,” she said.